CECAFA’s Musonye keeps clubs in dark
Jun 10, 2009
REGIONAL soccer governing body CECAFA stunned journalists yesterday by deciding that the draw for this year’s club championships be made secretly and only be released 24 hours later.
By Swalley Kenyi
REGIONAL soccer governing body CECAFA stunned journalists yesterday by deciding that the draw for this year’s club championships be made secretly and only be released 24 hours later.
“We have concluded (the draw) but I can only release it tomorrow (today) morning,†CECAFA general secretary Nicholas Musonye remarked on phone from Nairobi last night.
Earlier promises to release the draw were brushed aside: “No I can’t give you anything, you have to wait,†the former journalist added.
The club championships, originally scheduled for Uganda, will now be held in Khartoum and Port Sudan between 30 June and 12 July with DR Congo champions Tout Pussat (TP) Mazembe taking part as guests.
Sudan will also host the region’s U-17 championship in Juba, August.
At the same time, Prisons FC will replace Tanzania mainland champions Yanga in the club championship.
Yanga are serving a three-year ban for shunning their Kagame Cup third place play-off match against arch-rivals Simba in last year’s event held in Dar-es-Salaam.
Other clubs expected to compete in the annual championship include Uganda’s champions KCC, Banardir (Somalia), Inter Stars (Burundi), Zanzibar’s Miembeni, Atraco (Rwanda), Kertieleh from Djibouti and defending champions Tusker of Kenya.
Meanwhile, the two competitions have received a major financial boost after the Sudanese government reached a $1m sponsorship deal with CECAFA.
“We have, in turn increased the prize money from $60,000 to $100,000 of which the winners will pocket $50,000†Musonye said.
* The stage is set for the revived five-day Inter Regional championship starting in Lira on Monday.
The event was las held over 20 years ago.
REGIONAL soccer governing body CECAFA stunned journalists yesterday by deciding that the draw for this year’s club championships be made secretly and only be released 24 hours later.
“We have concluded (the draw) but I can only release it tomorrow (today) morning,†CECAFA general secretary Nicholas Musonye remarked on phone from Nairobi last night.
Earlier promises to release the draw were brushed aside: “No I can’t give you anything, you have to wait,†the former journalist added.
The club championships, originally scheduled for Uganda, will now be held in Khartoum and Port Sudan between 30 June and 12 July with DR Congo champions Tout Pussat (TP) Mazembe taking part as guests.
Sudan will also host the region’s U-17 championship in Juba, August.
At the same time, Prisons FC will replace Tanzania mainland champions Yanga in the club championship.
Yanga are serving a three-year ban for shunning their Kagame Cup third place play-off match against arch-rivals Simba in last year’s event held in Dar-es-Salaam.
Other clubs expected to compete in the annual championship include Uganda’s champions KCC, Banardir (Somalia), Inter Stars (Burundi), Zanzibar’s Miembeni, Atraco (Rwanda), Kertieleh from Djibouti and defending champions Tusker of Kenya.
Meanwhile, the two competitions have received a major financial boost after the Sudanese government reached a $1m sponsorship deal with CECAFA.
“We have, in turn increased the prize money from $60,000 to $100,000 of which the winners will pocket $50,000†Musonye said.
* The stage is set for the revived five-day Inter Regional championship starting in Lira on Monday.
The event was las held over 20 years ago.